R5.5bn for jobs fund

Pretoria - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Thursday told
parliament that about R5.5bn will be allocated to the jobs fund over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period.

Its initial allocations have been reduced owing to slow
progress in establishing administrative capacity, but the approved R9bn is
expected to be fully committed over a five-year period, he said.

"An amount of R1bn has been shifted from the jobs fund
allocation over the 2013 MTEF to other labour market priorities," Gordhan said.

Additional allocations would be made in the 2013 budget to
the department of labour’s public employment services and the Council for
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in preparation for amended
labour legislation.

"Supplementary funding will also be provided to maintain
factories that provide jobs for disabled workers. Government also seeks to
expand employment opportunities through a wide range of public works and
special employment programmes."

Over the medium term, the department of public works will
spend over R4bn in incentive grants to expanded public works projects
implemented by provincial departments and municipalities.

The community work programme would receive about R7.6bn over
the next three years and environmental programmes at least R8.5bn.

Additional funds would also be made available to NGOs that
participate in the non-state sector employment programme to support their
contribution to job creation.

Funding for the community work programme will
increase by an annual average of 25% over MTEF period.

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